RUMOR MILL

Call it the Grammy Effect, call it a sales bounce, call it whatever you'd like—but one thing is totally clear. The Grammy telecast sells records, lots and lots of records.

Friday, January 25, 2008

LENNYBEERBLOG: THE GRAMMY EFFECT IS IN EFFECT

The Show Will Go On, Thanks to Neil, as Our Own Peerless Prognosticator Ponders the Field

Kudos to Neil Portnow, kingpin of The Recording Academy, for his successful lobbying efforts in the media and behind the scenes in getting the Writers Guild to agree not to picket the upcoming Grammy Awards, which therefore guaranteed that the show will go on.

And boy do we ever need it.

Call it the Grammy Effect, call it a sales bounce, call it whatever you'd like—but one thing is totally clear. The Grammy telecast sells records, lots and lots of records (yes, i still use the word "records"), and this year's gala 50th anniversary celebration show will sell currents and revive catalogs like no other awards show does.

Ken Ehrlich and his brilliant production team will attempt to bring us the best of this year and a greatest hits extravaganza all in one. And every one of us in the industry needs to be supportive of Neil's team's efforts and back the Grammys (even though Springsteen's Magic did not receive a deserved Best Album nom). The Grammy show represents the best of us, and more often than not, represents us well. Neil, you are the man.

So, who wins? Does Amy Winehouse sweep the key categories, or will her much-publicized personal "issues" stop her momentum? Will Kanye West finally nab that elusive Best Album Grammy he has coveted with his best album to date. And which performances will steal the show and start a late-night iTunes buying frenzy? Personally, I can't wait to check the action on television and on iTunes. Man, do we ever need some great moments!

Next week, I will make my picks, and we'll get some other pundits in for a round of guesswork. Study the categories closely, and one key hint is to remember that the Grammy voters have not changed from last year, and always seem consistent in who they like and what political causes they support.

Who do you think will emerge as this year’s star? Who would you like to see win? Who deserves to win? Who will be kvetching afterward. Tell us what you think at [email protected], and as always, we’ll publish the most interesting reponses.
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All I know that Tim McGraw's song, "If You're Reading This," should and better win Country Song of the Year. The award is Counrty Song of the Year, NOT Single of the Year. No song made an impact more in Country music this last year than that song. "Before He Cheats" is a nice little ditty, but is more geared for Single, not Song.

It would be a disgrace and a shame if that song won over the song that has meant so much to so many people, the song by Tim McGraw called, "If You're Reading This." It should win Country Song of the Year without a doubt.

Anonymous
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Hi Lenny,

With all of the hoopla over how much time an artist gets to perform on the show etc., it may be time to re-think the entire televised portion of the Grammy awards telecast. With most of the categories being marginalized out of the TV performance, unfortunately including, "Producer of the Year," and all of the Jazz, Classical and Technical Categories, etc., why not create a third show to be shown on A&E, PBS or Bravo, etc., and give those artists and innovators their proper respect due?

We already have the Latin Grammys, which has really helped raise the profile of Latin Music overall to many who would never pay attention otherwise. A "Jazz, Classical and Technical Achievement" show would certainly raise the profile of those genres, and also give more TV performance time to the deserving, nominated artists.

I would rather see Herbie Hancock host and play a few tunes on that show, than 90 seconds criminally edited on the Grammys. Remember when they dropped the curtain on a Miles Davis performance and went to commercial? It was utter disrespect for the artist and the music. And by the way, with regard to Herbie's nomination in the "Album of the Year" category, either something has gone terribly wrong in Pop music, or the Grammys are hipper than we thought? Food for thought.

Best,

Guy Eckstine
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I can tell you one thing. I’ve been reading how NARAS can’t commit to giving Vince Gill any more performance time than 90 secondsand that is just criminal for an industry champion like Vince. The Academy apparently agrees as they nominated him for two awards. How can you not give a three-to-five-minute performance slot to a nominee in the Grammys' premier category? Portnow and NARAS need to yield on this, even if they have to be shamed into doing so by label brass and the NARAS membership.

I’m not saying Vince deserves to win per se; the Amy Winehouse record is my favorite among that category’s nominees. But you have to give the nominees their due.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008301240003

Peter L. Kohan
Kohan Music Group, LLC

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